Chapter 250. I Leave It to You.
I looked at the Jaha Inn, changed from before, together with the Four Great Villains.
“Third Brother is one successful waiter. To think he became a building owner with money he squeezed out by harassing the Black Way. The villain is actually right here, but Alliance Leader Im is gravely mistaken.”
That was what the Lecherous Demon recited while gazing at the Jaha Inn.
Since it was true, I had no particular desire to deny it. Even to my eyes, the exterior of the Jaha Inn looked far better than before.
It was neither overly flashy nor lacking in style.
The purple that Yeon Jaseong had painted here and there tied the overall atmosphere together. Martial Uncle Dongsu, who had been looking at the nearly completed Jaha Inn with us, asked in an innocent tone.
“Is it truly yours, Sect Leader? Now that I look, even the signboard says Jaha Inn.”
“Originally, it was a shabby, very small inn, but some wicked bastards set it on fire.”
“And then?”
“I rebuilt it more splendidly with their money. If someone smashes it again, I’ll strip that side bare too and build it even bigger. Later, it might even become a castle. Let’s go in.”
Who knew having a place to receive guests could make me this happy?
After sending the Four Great Villains and Martial Uncle Dongsu into the Jaha Inn, I looked at the sky beyond the hill I often used to gaze at.
The sky seen from the shabby inn and the sky seen from the newly built Jaha Inn were not particularly different.
I had deliberately returned to Ilyang County instead of going back to the Murim Alliance. Since I had killed Mureungja, there was no need to remain in Juksan either. In truth, I had not killed Mureungja to collect the bounty.
After all, I had more money than the Murim Alliance Leader, who lived off a monthly salary.
I had simply eased one of Im Sobaek’s worries.
When we went up to the second floor, fortunately, Junior Sister Hongsin appeared and greeted me with a startled expression.
“Eldest Senior Brother, you’re here.”
“Yeah. I brought honored guests. Where’s Brother Deuksu?”
“He’s in the kitchen.”
“Tell him I brought guests. And Seongtae?”
“I’ll call him.”
“Tell him to bring the book when he comes.”
“Yes.”
I seated everyone at the largest table, then was about to go take a look at the kitchen when I looked at the young man coming to take our order.
“Who were you again?”
The wide-eyed man bowed deeply to me.
“Sect Leader, I’m Gongdeok. You spared me before.”
“Gongdeok? I don’t remember.”
“Well, I was one of Jo Igyeol’s subordinates.”
“Still don’t remember.”
“I dug the graves.”
“Ah!”
“Back then, I said I was good at making chicken-head noodles… I’m that guy.”
“So it was you. The aspiring cook.”
Gongdeok smiled with a bright expression.
“Yes, that’s me.”
I nodded, then said.
“Got it, so go bring us some water.”
“Ah, yes.”
The Four Great Villains were looking at me. I glanced around my inn and muttered.
“There are so many bastards I’ve spared that even I get confused. Dongsu, what do you think that means?”
Dongsu answered.
“It means you’ve killed many people too, I suppose?”
“Correct. Since I’m in front of a monk, I should repent.”
“Are you truly repenting?”
I glared at Dongsu.
“Not yet. I’ll do it later.”
“Yes.”
Just then, a deep voice rang out from below.
“Jaha, you’re here?”
Brother Deuksu came up the stairs and approached with an expression much brighter than before. Surprisingly, his face had slimmed down a bit too.
I asked with a puzzled expression.
“Brother Deuksu, are you living under Junior Sister Hong’s beatings? Why has your face shrunk to half its size?”
Brother Deuksu laughed.
“I’m not living under beatings. We’ve been training in lightness skills together. The weight keeps coming off.”
“Wow, you really never know what life has in store. To think Jang Deuksu of Chunyang Restaurant would be training in lightness skills.”
In any case, after he started seeing Junior Sister Hongsin, he had become this bright.
Men really are pathetic bastards…
Jang Deuksu bowed his head toward my party.
“I am Jang Deuksu of the Jaha Inn. Since there is a monk among you, if there is anything in particular you cannot eat, please tell me and I will prepare accordingly. Jaha, what should I do?”
I looked at Dongsu.
“Prepare clear noodles with nothing in them for the monk.”
“All right.”
I nodded, then looked at Brother Deuksu.
“For the rest, just pork backbone, rice, and liquor. A few side dishes should be enough.”
Jang Deuksu nodded with a smile.
“Got it. I’ll prepare it. And…”
“And what?”
Jang Deuksu looked at me, then rubbed his fingers together.
“Payment in advance.”
“……”
Wait a moment, wasn’t I the owner of the Jaha Inn?
I tilted my head.
“That’s strange. Aren’t I the owner?”
“That’s true. But you still have to pay.”
“Why?”
“The inn has to have money to operate. Is this your first day running a business?”
“That’s true.”
I took out my money pouch and checked the travel funds inside. At that, Jang Deuksu snatched the entire pouch away and said.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. Did you learn thievery too? The movement of your wrist is no ordinary thing.”
Jang Deuksu nodded.
“I’ve been learning bit by bit whenever I have time. In exchange, I teach cooking. Wait just a little.”
The cook and the thief were teaching each other their specialties.
Only then did we drink the water poured by the aspiring cook I had once spared. The moment I saw Gongdeok smile slightly after meeting my eyes, I said.
“Are you learning cooking like you wanted?”
“Yes, I’m learning.”
Only then did Cha Seongtae come up the stairs.
“Sect Leader…”
Cha Seongtae offered a fist-and-palm salute to the guests, then introduced himself.
“I am Cha Seongtae, the chief administrator of the Hao Sect.”
Cha Seongtae came closer and held out a book.
“Here it is.”
I indicated the empty seat with a jut of my chin.
“Chief Steward Cha, sit down too.”
“Yes.”
I stared at the Hundred Battles Ten Stages Art and the Dugu Heavy Sword for a moment, then pushed the Dugu Heavy Sword toward the Sword Demon.
“A gift.”
The Sword Demon took the Dugu Heavy Sword and silently turned the cover. He seemed to read a few lines, then, as if instantly absorbed, continued reading the Dugu Heavy Sword manual without taking his eyes from it.
I looked at the Hundred Battles Ten Stages Art, then asked Cha Seongtae.
“Chief Steward Cha, did you peek?”
“…….”
Cha Seongtae only nodded without a word.
“How was it?”
“Too difficult.”
“Any progress?”
“The Dugu Heavy Sword was a martial art I couldn’t understand at all, so I gave up. I did begin studying the Hundred Battles Ten Stages Art, but… I looked without permission.”
“Seongtae.”
“Hm?”
I stroked the cover of the Hundred Battles Ten Stages Art with my hand.
“This isn’t any ordinary martial art.”
Cha Seongtae spoke casually to me, his expression serious.
“I know.”
“What you mean by knowing is probably different from what I mean. This is a difficult martial art. Only someone like the leader of the Beggars’ Sect, the greatest master of the orthodox faction, could unleash its full power. It’s a martial art that must be used by an expert with extremely deep inner force.”
Cha Seongtae nodded.
“I see.”
“Even if you train in it your whole life, there’s a good chance you won’t see the end of this martial art.”
“Mm.”
“And yet you peeked at the Hundred Battles Ten Stages Art without my permission and even began practicing it? You should have lied and said you hadn’t seen it.”
“That’s not really in my nature.”
“And I intended to pass this martial art on, while wandering the world, to someone with chivalrous righteousness—whether rich or poor, child or youth. Is the chief steward of our Haomun that kind of person?”
Cha Seongtae muttered.
“I’m not.”
I pushed the Hundred Battles Ten Stages Art back in front of Cha Seongtae.
“Take responsibility.”
“Mm.”
“Master it to the end. If you can’t, then pass it on, as I originally intended, to someone with chivalrous righteousness, and teach them properly everything you’ve learned. That doesn’t mean you can neglect your duties as chief steward. Do your work as chief steward, train in the Hundred Battles Ten Stages Art, and find someone to pass it on to and teach. Even an extraordinary martial art like this becomes nothing special if you train in it without the resolve to see it through to the end. Whether the martial art is extraordinary or the mindset is extraordinary—truthfully, who can say? How far will you train?”
Cha Seongtae looked at me.
“To the very end.”
“Can you swear it?”
Cha Seongtae nodded.
I deliberately introduced the Four Great Evils to Cha Seongtae properly.
“These are people I met in the martial world. Our eldest brother, the Sword Demon; second brother, Master Yukhap; fourth brother, Mongrang of the Pungun Mong Clan. And this is Monk Dongsu, who came from the Western Regions.”
Conversely, I introduced Cha Seongtae to them again.
“This is Cha Seongtae, who serves as chief steward in Haomun. He secretly peeked at an extraordinary martial arts manual without my permission, but I’ll consider this fate as well and pass the Hundred Battles Ten Stages Art to him. However, Cha Seongtae, swear before Senior Sword Demon, Master Yukhap, Mongrang, and Monk Dongsu. Say clearly with your own mouth how you will train in it, what you will do if you fail, and swear to it. For reference, the Hundred Battles Ten Stages Art and the Dugu Heavy Sword are manuals I obtained by risking my life, whatever the case may be.”
Cha Seongtae stared at the Four Great Evils and the monk.
I added to the now-grave Cha Seongtae.
“You may never have felt the weight of a heavy responsibility while drifting between brothels and Haomun until now, but the Hundred Battles Ten Stages Art is not such a light martial art. If a true hero masters it, he could become the greatest hero under heaven. You must train in it while bearing that heavy responsibility. I can’t let this pass so easily this time.”
After nodding several times, Cha Seongtae looked at the Four Great Evils and Dongsu and opened his mouth.
“I, Cha Seongtae, will train in the Hundred Battles Ten Stages Art to the end. If I fail to achieve mastery, then as the sect leader said, I will seek out someone who possesses chivalrous righteousness and transmit it to them with all my heart and sincerity. Senior Sword Demon, Master Yukhap, Young Master Mong, Monk Dongsu. And before Lee Zaha, who grew up with me in the same neighborhood, the sect leader of Haomun, I, Cha Seongtae, swear this.”
Was this a sincere oath?
A person’s oath was not something I could easily trust.
I asked the Four Great Evils and Martial Uncle Dongsu.
“Give Cha Seongtae some advice.”
Dongsu looked at Cha Seongtae and said,
“Chief Steward, true enlightenment is always covered by the shell of misunderstanding and delusion. Even when you think you have understood, if you look deeper, you often find it was merely a momentary illusion. I hope you delve deeply into the Hundred Battles Ten Stages Art and attain complete enlightenment.”
Cha Seongtae replied.
“What does complete enlightenment mean?”
“It means to understand fully and completely.”
“Yes.”
Cha Seongtae looked at the Lust Demon. Of course, I looked at the Lust Demon too. I was curious what on earth this bastard would say as advice.
The Lust Demon took a sip of water, then held out the cup he had been drinking from to Cha Seongtae.
“Chief Steward Cha, a gift.”
By the time Cha Seongtae received the cup with a bewildered expression, it had already frozen solid, inside and out.
The Lust Demon asked,
“Can you break that with your bare hands?”
Cha Seongtae replied,
“It would be extremely difficult.”
“Once you achieve mastery, you’ll be able to turn it to powder.”
“Yes.”
When Cha Seongtae looked at Master Yukhap, the second brother smiled faintly and said,
“Many men make resolutions, but very few do not forget the heart they had when they made them. Perhaps not forgetting that heart will become even more important than completing the Hundred Battles Ten Stages Art. I will ask the sect leader from time to time how Chief Steward Cha is doing.”
Cha Seongtae lowered his head slightly.
“Yes.”
Now everyone’s gaze turned to the Sword Demon. The Sword Demon, who had been reading the Dugu Heavy Sword manual with an attitude of half-listening until now, closed the book.
The Sword Demon looked at Cha Seongtae with a less than friendly gaze, then said,
“Chief Steward Cha.”
“Yes, senior.”
“As I understand it, this manual was obtained by the Haomun Sect Leader at the risk of his life. Are you qualified to receive it? He even took it from a master stronger than himself. Sect Leader, give Chief Steward Cha at least a brief account of what happened then.”
I nodded.
“I climbed a cliff and obtained it after arguing with an extraordinary eccentric stronger than me. Honestly, even if I were told to do it again, it would be difficult. What was it that moved that fellow’s heart? It feels like it happened only yesterday, but looking back, it also feels as if I dreamed it. I never knew until now that I would hand this over to Cha Seongtae. I have no choice but to trust Seongtae….”
The Sword Demon nodded, then continued from where I left off.
“Chief Steward Cha, this is not a light book.”
“Yes.”
“I doubt this is a book he handed you so you could make a name for yourself in the gangho. Having gauged your skill, I see you possess shoddy ability that doesn’t even measure up to the Sect Master’s junior martial sister. If I were Jaha, I would not have given you a secret manual like this. It is a futile, empty thing whose ending is plainly obvious. In truth, martial arts training is something that requires no excuses. If one day you make a firm resolve and decide to rise at the Hour of the Rabbit (卯時), then you must rise at the Hour of the Rabbit and train in martial arts without any excuses. Until the day you achieve complete mastery of the Hundred Battles Ten Stages Technique, that is. If you cannot even do that, return the Hundred Battles Ten Stages Technique to the Sect Master here and now. It would be a waste of time.”
Now we all looked at Cha Seongtae at the same time.
A brief silence passed, and then Cha Seongtae grabbed the Hundred Battles Ten Stages Technique lying on the table, tucked it into his robe, and replied.
“I will take responsibility for this.”
Only then did I fold my arms and look at the Four Great Villains, Cha Seongtae, and Uncle-Master Dongsu as well.
It was rather funny, a scene of pathetic men giving advice to another pathetic man, but since I was pathetic myself, I had nothing in particular to say. Still, since they were all stronger than Cha Seongtae, every word of it was probably right. Only then did the Sword Demon turn his gaze back to the Dugu Heavy Sword secret manual and speak to Cha Seongtae.
“Your Sect Master has many enemies in the gangho. Lend him your strength.”
Cha Seongtae barely managed to answer the Sword Demon’s words.
“Yes, Senior.”
With my arms folded, I watched the Four Great Villains and the baldhead. Since I had dragged them around with me, they were even educating Cha Seongtae on their own—one might call it a very heartwarming sight.
In truth, it was just as I had expected.
I grinned to myself, then shut my mouth and waited for the pork backbone stew.